Chargesheet filed against Verma in defence documents leak case

The third person, who was charge-sheeted, is a former Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force, Koka Rao, who was arrested by the CBI last night and was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Vidya Prakash.

Rao was arrested for allegedly leaking the confidential documents which were later provided to the CBI by Verma's estranged business associate C Edmond Allen.

CMM Prakash took cognisance of the charge sheet and slated December 11 for scrutiny of documents filed with it.

The CBI had registered on August 28 a case against Verma and his Romanian wife Anca Maria Neacsu, presently lodged in jail, under the OSA on a complaint by the Defence Ministry.

The CBI had sought Rao's custody for four days to question him on the conspiracy of the offence and to ascertain others' involvement in it.

The court, however, rejected the CBI plea for his custody and remanded him to judicial custody till December 13.

In the FIR, the CBI had said the Defence Ministry had on June 6 received a letter from Verma's business partner and Ganton Pvt Ltd's President C Edmond Allen with some documents annexed to it.

Upon verification, some of these documents were found to be "secret" and a complaint was made to the CBI by the ministry on August 27 following which a case under section 3 of the OSA (for passing sensitive information) and of criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code was registered against Verma and his wife.